Honeysuckle ROSE ?

Nope, not in any way is it related to Willie Nelson's
touring bus. This is the Desert Honeysuckle or
Anisacanthus thurberi. It grows in the desert
mountains of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Northwest
Mexico. It has a habit of blooming several times in a
single year, with the peak bloom occurring in April.
Hummingbirds are attracted to its tubular orange to red
flowers. Carpenter bees may steal nectar by biting a
"slit" in the base of the flower. Its NECTAR is so
sweet ... I think it is probably even more sweeter than
a Snickers bar. And, even though its not related to
Willie Nelson's touring bus, it still deserves a spot
in the glorious southwestern scheme of things.

Hey, for some reason I thought you
were in Australia doing a 'walkabout.'
Yes, flowers in the desert can be a
surprise. My Mom had a different species
of Honeysuckle growing in her backyard
garden when I was a lad. Each spring, it
would attract an amazing number of
hummingbirds. There would be several
hummingbirds trying to pollinate a single
flower, and they would FIGHT over which
one would reach the NECTAR first. Amazing!
- Thank you, have a nice day ! - Larry